October 10, 2014 | 18th Edition
library update Library partners engage patrons by getting creative with hoopla Thomas Crane Public Library, in Quincy, MA, went live with hoopla in May and is trending very well. The library increased circulations substantially in a relatively short period, in part thanks to the creativity of Clayton Cheever, Assistant Director. He has taken the time to figure out how to link directly to full collections and individual titles in hoopla from the library catalog, creating what is a full “Listen Now” feature on his site. Examples include: “Listen Now to Eric Clapton’s album” takes the user directly to the album; and the phrase “Like Robert Plant?” takes the user to all Robert Plant albums. In addition to this effort, TCPL has also done much with social media and local news interviews, again with the assistance of Mr. Cheever. At Bayport-Blue Point Public Library in Blue Point, NY, the library decided to engage at a totally different end of the patron spectrum. This year, the library purchased sixty iPads for use in the local school district’s 6th grade classes. Bayport loaded all the iPads with what they considered necessary apps, and when the devices come back to the library over the winter holidays for updating, hoopla will be installed on all equipment. During the summer, patrons will also be able to take the iPads home, and with a successful program in place, BBPPL could apply for a grant to purchase more iPads. library update | 1